Hi All,



I'm in the process of having a new response bag made for me and am hearing mixed information regarding Velcro I have been told that CQC will be outlawing it at some point in the foreseeable future but also been told that it is fine to use on the inside of the bag. One of the options that has been suggested as an alternative to Velcro is to use a magnetic system but there seems to be some questions surrounding this and Oxygen but my understanding is that the type of magnet that will be used that used for holding things to the fridge will have no effect on Oxygen. 



So was just wondering if anyone was able to shed a bit more light on it, 



Regards, 



Ty

I have little doubt that some inspector in the CQC would like to see velcro banned.  I don't know in what context you are buying a bag but if for your own use then the CQC don't come into it. If you are buying it for work with an organisation then you need to take there advice.

For most ambulance services cervical collars are now a "once only" use. Many also now use "once only" head blocks.



Just look at most medical catalogues and see what is now disposable, all for the sake of infection control.  



 I was speaking to a paramedic who had been pulled up because one of his now use only once cervical collar was not in a sealed polythene bag.

Simply, because it is difficult to clean velcro, to a standard that the is acceptable to the infection control "police" 

extrication collars are a Single Use item . 



immobilisation collars  such as Aspen  and Vista Collars are Single Patient Use  and the pads and  velcro straps  are changeable / washable SPU items   ( even though the collar itself is SPU )



therefore velcro is a perfectly acceptable  fastener as the collar will be disposed of when it is no longer required. 



Box splints etc  pose  an issue as do the 'head beds'  used with scoops and long extrication boards  as these are not Single use / Single patient use  and it is hard to  properly and adequately  decontaminate  these items  (  where as  blankets and sheets can be put through an infection control approved  wash and dry cycle ) 



the obvious answer with head beds  etc  is to use  the Single use versions commercially available from a number of suppliers  or to move to a velcro like fastener that can be adequately decontaminated.